Here’s what Mitch Johnson, Julian Champagnie, and Stephon Castle said following the team’s home loss to the Magic.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs lost to the Orlando Magic 116-105 at home, led by Harrison Barnes’ 24 points. Orlando swept the regular-season series, and San Antonio is on a five-game losing skid.
Devin Vassell scored 11 points, and Chris Paul had 10 points and seven assists. Stephon Castle finished with 16 and six assists, and Bismack Biyombo recorded 11. Keldon Johnson added seven and seven rebounds. Julian Champagnie finished with 19, and Blake Wesley had four. Jeremy Sochan did not play due to back issues.
The Spurs are 31-44 this season and will visit the Nuggets on Wednesday night.
Here’s a sample of what the Spurs said after the game.
Mitch Johnson:
“I think were the shots, finishes and shots we usually make. The turnovers killed us. We got a little stagnant and a lot of that was their physicality and then they carried over the physicality and the aggressiveness to the other end and we were kind of on our heels on both ends. They (Magic) get a lot of credit for that and just got to finish it out more of the 48 (minutes) than we did tonight.”
Champagnie:
“I think they (Magic) ramped up their defense in the fourth quarter. That’s what I’d say. They ramped up their defense. Played a little harder. Made it a little tougher, so I’ll give him that.”
“Honestly, I think it was really just their (Magic) pressure in the fourth quarter. I felt like the first three quarters we were kind of solid with it. We had a couple turnovers early, but for the majority of the game we were good. I think that fourth quarter they kind of ramped it (defense) up and that’s how they kind of broke away with the lead.”
Coach Jamahl Mosley, Franz Wagner, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope